Flush tank valve



Feb. 23, 1960 P. J. GRESHAM 2,925,603

FLUSH TANK VALVE Filed Oct. 17, 1957 F I w r II 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Pau/ J Gre sham F 3 BY ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1960 P. J. GRESHAM FLUSH TANK VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1957 INVENTOR Pau/ J. Gresham Fig.7

ATTORNEYS United States P fi This invention relates to new and. useful improve m ri s in flushtank valves. v One obje t of the. inven i n isto provide an mpr ed valve for a flush tank which is-ot e on mical, fii i nt construction and of such arrangement that the valve is positively guided into seating engagement with an outlet opening upon emptying ofthe tank.

. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved flush tank valve which is slidably supported for reciprocal movement-relative toits seat and which has coacting means for-guiding the. valve toward the seat and maintaining said valve in position for sealing engagement withsaid seat. V H V A furtherobject of the invention is to provide an improved flush tank valve, of the character described, which includesmeansdepending from the. valve 1 through the Seat and into the outlet opening and means for limiting upward mQYcment of said valve to maintain the depending means in the opening and guide said valve intov sealing position. 1

Still another object of theinvention is to provide an improved flush tank valve, of the character described, which includes guide means for maintaining the valve in axialalinement with the outlet opening to insure positive sealing engagement of. thevalve.

A construction 'designedto carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together'with other features of the invention,

The invention will be more readily understood from a: reading ofthe following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein examplesof'the invention are showmand wherein: p

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, partly in elevation, of a flush tank having a valve constructed and mounted in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the valve,

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified valve,

a1Fig. 4 is an enlarged, perspective view of the modified v ve,

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified valve mounting,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, mounting of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, showing another valve mounting, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, perspective view of the valve mounting of Fig. 7.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a flush tank having a removable lid 11 for closing its upper end and perspective view of the valve w an outlet opening 12 in its bottom for receiving a drain fitting 13 which connects a discharge pipe 14 to the tank. The drain fitting 13 is conventional and has a large bore or opening 15 with an annular seat 16 surrounding its upper end and spaced from the bottom of the tank. A hollow extension 17 extends laterally from the upper portion of the fitting for supporting an upright, overflow pipe 18 communication with the bore 15 between 2,925,608 Patentedlieb. 2 1.969

ICE

2 the tank bottom and the seat 16. The. tank includes an operating armor lever 19 having an external handle. 20. at ne. en with -chain 2 depcndinafrom its Opposit end portion.

For controlling the discharge of, Wl'tfillhlQugh the. outlet opening 1 2, a hollow or buoyant valve ball 22, of rubber or suitable material, is. adapted, to sealingly engage. the annular seat 16 of the. drain fitting 13 and is suspended from the lower end er the chain 21. The valve. ball 22 is substantially spherical and has an'elongated, axial. extension 23, which is of reduced diameter and tapered, depending from its. underside. to provide a guide. element therefor-(Figs. 1 and 2). An upright, axial rod or stem 24 extends through the valvcballand its depending extension 23, terminating adjacent the lower n of sa d 'e tens nqas own by he n mera in F g. 2, w e y-said xt ns is r forc a d o g eat r rigidi y han s d a Th .P1?r en of th em 24 projects from the valve ball and is bent laterally at substantial-ly a right angle to provide a horizontal guide member 26, to which the; lower end of. the chain 21,

I issli ably connec Apair of: ann lar l ps of r ngs.

27. and; 28are formed on the outer end of the guide member 26.1-by bending said member upon itself. The rings 27 and 28 are disposed in, spaced,-vertical alinement by-an upright connecting portion 29 and, are of greater diameter than the overflow tube 18. for slidable ,e'ngagce me i h r upon, the diamet rf sai rings be ng su ficiently greater to permit limited lateral movement of the valveball'. A stop collar 30 isclamped onthe upper portion of the tube. by means of a screw 31 for engage ment by the upper ring 28 to limit upward movement of the guide member and valve ball.

Upon ma pul ion f t e h nd e 20 and. c n elockwise pivotingof the lever 19, the valve ball 22 is lifted o ef g cm t ith he s 16: by the chai 21. The guidemember 26 and its rings 27 and 28 slide upwardly on the overflow tube 18 without interfering with the raising of the valve ball. Although the valve ball and guide member are freely rotatable relative to the overflow tube and may undergo. limited lateral movement, the collar is positionedso as to be engaged by the. upper ring 28 before the guide element or ball extension 23 moves, out of thebore i the fitting 13. As a result, the valve. ball is maintained inoverlying relationto the seat. 16 and is directed into engagement therewith by its guide element or extension upon sub,- stantially emptying of the tank. The guide member 26 coacts with the extension and supports the valve ball.

in an upright position so that its movement is substantially vertical or axially of the bore 15.

A modified valve is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and includes a hollow, spherical ball 32 of rubber or other suitable material. An upright rod or stem 33 extends axially through the valve ball 32 for projection thereabove and therebelow. The upper end of the stem 33 has an eye 31 for pivotal connection with the lower end of the chain 21, while the lower end of said stem .depends within the bore 15 of the outlet fitting 13 to provide a guide element similar to the ball extension 23. A guide member 35 slidably connects the upper portion of the stem to the overflow tube 18 and includes a pair of superimposed, horizontal arms or legs 36. An annular loop or ring 37, similar to the rings 27 and 28, is formed on the inner end of each arm-36 by bending the member 35 upon itself. The rings 37 are connected to and spaced from each other by upright portion 38 of the member which is disposed between said rings and which is similar to the portion 29 of the guide member 26. An annular loop or ring 39 is formed on the free or outer end of the upper arm for encircling the stem 33, while the lower arm has an axially alined loop or ring 40 of somewhat greater'diameterfor permitting limited pivotal or swinging movement of the valve ball 32-and stem 33 relative to the guide member. Disengagement of the lower portion of the stem from the bore 15 of the outlet fitting 13 is prevented by engagement of the upper ring 37 with the stop ,30 whereby the valve ball is maintained in overlying relation to said bore. Manifestly, the modified valve functions in substantially the same manner as the valve ball. 3 l

' Another modification is shown in Figs. and 6 and includes a hollow, spherical valve ball 41' similar to the valve ball 32. Instead of the stem 33, the valve ball 41 includes an axial rod or stem-42 which is bent laterally upon itself to provide a horizontal, guide member 43, similar to the guide member 26 and slidably connected to the chain 21. Axially alined, spaced loops or rings 44 and 45 are formed on the free or outer end of the guide member 43 and are connected by an upright tory thereof and various "changes in the size; shape and portion 46 of said member. It is noted that the loops i 44 and 45 are polygonal or square for slidable engagement upon a polygonalor square sleeve 47 which is confined upon the overflow tube 18 between the lateral extension 17 of the fitting 13 and a clamp collar 48 which is similar to the collar 30 and has a similar screw 49. Due to the polygonal shape of the loops and sleeve,

the guide member 43 is adapted to maintain the valve ball 41 in axial alinement with thebore 15 of the drain said valve ball with the seat 16.

v A further modification is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and includes a hollow, spherical valve ball 50 similar-to the valve balls 32and 42. An axial, upright rod or stem 51 is screw-threaded in the upper surface of the valve ball 50 and hasan eye 52 at its upper end for pivotal connection with the, lower end of the chain 21, For maintaining the valve ball in'axial alinement with the bore 15 of the drain fitting 13, a guide member or yoke 53 is provided and includes a pair of horizontal, spaced arms or. legs 54 which are connected at one end by an npright web 55. Each arm 54 has a circular opening 56 adjacent the web 55 for slidable engagement with the overflow tube 18. A suitable screw 57 extends through the web for engagement with the tube to secure fitting 13 so as to insure positive sealing engagement of H materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the inven tion. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s: 'j'

1. In a flush, tank having an outlet opening in its bottom and an upright overflow tube, 'a valve ball for seating engagementwith the outlet opening, means for lifting, the valve ball out of engagement with the opening, a horizontal guide member-having 'con'nection at one end with said valve ball for directing the same into engagement with'the outlet opening, a pair of alined spaced rings on the other end of the member slidably engaged on the overflow tube at spaced points whereby said memberand, valve ball are supported for upright reciprocal movement, "said valve ball having an axial reduced extension depending into-the outletopening; and means on the tube for limitingupward movement of said member so" as to maintain the'depending extension in the opening for substantially centering said valvefball relative to 'the opening. 5 2. In a flush tank havingan outlet opening in its bottom andan upright overflow tube, a valve ball for seatingengagement with the outlet opening, means for lifting the valve ball out of engagement with the opening, a stem upstanding from said valve ball, a horizontal guide member having one end connected to the stem for directing said valve ball into engagement with the outlet opening, a'pair of alined spaced rings on the other end of' the member slidably engaged'on the overflow tube at spaced points whereby said member and valve ball are supported for upright reciprocal movement, said valve ball having an axial reduced extension dependinginto the opening, and means on the tube for'limiting upward movement of said member so as to maintain the dethe guide member in adjusted positions. Theouter end of the upper arm hasa circular opening for slidably receiving the stem 51', while an opening 59 of somewhat larger diameter is formed in the outer end of the lower arm to permit limited pivotal or swinging movement of said stem relative to the guide member. its' screw 57, the guide member 53 is very similar to the guide member35.

Except for pending extension in the opening 'for substantially centering said valve ball relative to the opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent -UNITED STATES PATENTS "1,145,631 Vader -4--- July 6, 19-15 1,440,469 Keller .'Jan. 2, 1923 2,222,856 Robertson et a1. Now-'26, 1940 '2,290,679 Edes l July'2l, 1942 2,778,028 Weincr l.......... Jan. 22,1957

am-ii 

